Three men stand on top of the border fence overlooking into the States at around 3 am on Christmas. It is easiest to climb the fence at this part, but they have to shimmy across the fence in order to drop down where there is no barbed wire. They wait for the coast to clear and plan their route to cross uphill to the second border fence.Tijuana, , Mexico -- 12/25/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A migrant family walks out of the camp in El Barretal, Tijuana Mexico, This is one of the two entrances that allow migrants free passage. All of the migrants are all required to register with the camp’s official and to wear an ID or wristband to be able to enter the shelter. In total, there are roughly 6,000 migrants in Tijuana between this camp and one further north in a warehouse called Contra Viento y Marea.Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/22/2018 --. by Paul Lai
The border fence located at Las Playas, Tijuana. On the Mexican side, you can find the wall painted with murals, many in support of migrants. On the US side, it is decorated with razor wire. Even still, Las Playas remains to be the most illegally crossed fence in Tijuana, making it one of the most crossed fences along the US/Mexico border. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/22/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A young boy pokes his head through the US/Mexico border fence in Las Playas, Tijuana. On the other side, a US border patrol agent watches his co-worker cover up footprints on the sand that were left behind by a migrant the night before. Previous to this, locals and migrants disputed with border patrol, in which agents proceeded to do donuts and burnouts, launching dirt and sand at the people on the other side. On the Mexican side, you can find the fence painted with murals, many in support of migrants. On the US side, it is decorated with razor wire. Even still, Las Playas remains to be the most illegally crossed fence in Tijuana, making it one of the most crossed fences along the US/Mexico border. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/25/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A migrant volunteer hands out crackers to other migrants in line as they wait for their turn to pick up donated shoes from a pile on the floor. Contra Viento y Marea receives most of its donations from the citizens of Tijuana and San Diego. Even still the camp needs more resources. They tried to ask the town for more money to take care of all the people. In the first week of January, the camp was shut down. All of the migrants there were bussed to El Barretal, a federal run camp further south in Tijuana. Many wished they could have stayed because, at Contra Viento y Marea, they were only a few paces from the border.Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/20/2018 -- by Paul Lai
Volunteers frantically sort through the donations behind them as hundreds wait for their chance to grab hold of what’s in store. At Comunidad: Contra Viento y Marea, everything is run internally. Migrants are their own volunteers. Here, a couple of wooden slabs were erected to create a sort of pantry for donated goods. Contra Viento y Marea opened up a day after the old camp, Benito Juarez was shut down due to overcrowding, sanitation, and safety concerns. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/20/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A young girl plays with a baby by the entrance of Contra Viento y Marea after a toy donation was dropped off. Toys came in just in time for the children as the year approaches Christmas. Many of the people living in Contra Viento y Marea are parts of families. The community is bustling with people. Nearly 300 have temporarily called this place home. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/20/2018 -- by Paul Lai
Claudia (left) watches her daughter Angelina Jolie (right) drink from a bottle of coke inside of their tent in Contra Viento y Marea. Claudia is the mother of seven children. Things got difficult for her when her children’s father passed away in Miami, FL. Claudia was reluctant to leave her home until she was a witness to a murder, a domestic violence case that happened in Honduras. She wanted to bring all of her children with her, but her mother urged her not to, out of their safety. She left for the States that day with Angelina Jolie and the equivalent of $5 USD in her pocket. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/21/2018 -- by Paul Lai
(Left to right) Gerson, Julian, Yeni, Fiorela, and Esau. Yeni holds up two documents from the city of Tegucigalpa, Municipal of the Central District, of Honduras. The document states that their family has reported to the government death threats received from “Gang 18”. The document on the right is dated August 27, 2015. The document on the left is dated June 5, 2018. Julian and his wife Yeni are the parents of four children. They have been on the run in Honduras since 2015 after the gangs stole their house. Their youngest son, who's three years old was born shortly after they went into hiding. They left for the States in October of this year. They wait patiently for their number to be called so that they can cross over the border and apply for asylum. Every day, the number of applications rises. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/20/2018 -- by Paul Lai
Gerson blows a bubble with gum. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/20/2018 -- by Paul Lai
Julian and his family in Contra Viento y Marea. Julian and his wife Fiorela are the parents of four children. They have been on the run in Honduras since 2015 after the gangs took their house. Their youngest son, who’s three years old was born while they were in hiding. They left for the States in October of this year. Julian shows us some documents from when they left that they presented to the Honduran government in a petition for protection. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/20/2018 -- by Paul Lai
Elvis (left) sits in his tent in Contra Viento y Marea with his friend as he tells us of his journey. He walked day and night for several days, catching rides when he could until he was able to find some buses that eventually brought him here. He left behind his wife and kids, at a relatives house in El Salvador after his mother in law urged him to leave with the caravan. He is thankful for his friend who he met on the road here. He says having friends he met along the way, knowing they are alike, helps him feel less lonely. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/21/2018 -- by Paul Lai
Elvis, a migrant from Honduras shows us his gunshot wounds as he tells us about his life in Honduras. He used to work in the factories. One day, violence broke out in the streets and he was shot as he ran away. The police and gangs threatened to kill him if he sought help, forcing him to flee for his life. He told us how the hospitals in Honduras don’t offer aid or prescriptions, just recipes. They send you to the store to pick up the necessary supplies. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/21/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A man helps a woman to the second level of El Barretal. The temporary refugee camp in Tijuana, Mexico used to be a music arena that held thousands of fans. Now, due to the arrival of the caravan, it hosts over 5000 migrants from all over Latin America. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/23/2018 -- by Paul Lai
Soccer is one of the key activities here at El Barretal. Many migrants here enjoy spending most of their time playing soccer. Here, they line up, practicing penalty kicks. If you make your shot, you become the keeper until the next goal is scored. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/23/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A woman (bottom left corner) who runs a stand that hands out hygienic resources (toilet paper, pads, etc.) approaches a group of soccer players. She is upset because whenever the players miss a shot, it flies over and hits her stand. A camp official (not pictured) helps to settle things down. Eventually, the group disperses. The woman goes back to her stand and the players begin playing again. Just another day in El Barretal. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/23/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A migrant receives a haircut from one of the barbers at El Barretal. Towards the entrance of the camp, near the bathrooms there is a group of barbers. Men come here for haircuts and to socialize, making it its own little outdoor barbershop. A good haircut can enhance their chances of finding a job here in Tijuana, Mexico. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/23/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A young girl smashes a donated Christmas Grinch piñata on Buena Noche. Spirits were both high and low this Christmas for many of the people living in Contra Viento y Marea. Many were happy and gracious to be alive and many others longed for their families lost or left behind. This girl, however, puts it all to the side for one last swing at the Christmas piñata. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/24/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A group of migrants walks along the US/Mexico border fence on Christmas night. Many of them chose this night to jump, thinking there would be fewer US border patrol agents on duty. To their dismay, the night is still busy for the patrol. Still, they wait. Still, they plan. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/25/2018 -- by Paul Lai
A woman holding her kid was detained by the US border patrol agent on Christmas day. From here, she will go into removal proceedings and has an opportunity to apply for a defensive asylum. Tijuana, Mexico -- 12/25/2018 -- by Paul Lai